It is difficult to find a concept as diffuse and as widely used at the same time as that of mental health (Hiriart, 2018). This concept is used to refer to the state or condition of an individual, to a conceptual and practical field in public health, to a series of psychiatric pathologies and psychosocial problems, and even to a series of political, health and social activities (Hiriart, 2018 ). Therefore, in correspondence with Pradas (2018), defining this concept is very important in order to correctly treat psychological disorders, mental illnesses and to be able to maintain a correct state of health in general.
What is Mental Health?
Mental health is an integral fragment of health; so much so that there is no health without mental health, this is because the World Health Organization defines health as a complete state of physical, mental and social well-being, and not only the absence of diseases or illnesses. In other words, according to the World Health Organization (2018), mental health is a state of well-being in which people can exercise their capacities and cope with the normal pressures of life, perform productive work and contribute to the community.
That is, mental health is the result of all aspects of daily life, since it depends not only on physical factors, but also on psychological, environmental and socioeconomic factors (Carrasco et al, 2015). In this sense, according to the World Health Organization (2018), mental health is the basis of well-being and the effective functioning of the community.
Therefore, mental health and happiness are the basis of the capacities to think collectively and personally, express emotions, interact with others, and enjoy life (World Health Organization, 2018). Consequently, in correspondence with Carrasco et al. (2015), the affective bond is essential and isolation, lack of courage or stress, caused by events such as an illness or the death of a loved one, can cause depression or other illnesses.
In the same vein, people may face other risk factors, such as lower socioeconomic levels, the torment that can cause job instability and unemployment, the need to adapt to changes brought about by new technologies and uprooting caused by immigration (Carrasco et al, 2015). Similarly, according to Carrasco et al (2015), the consumption and abuse of psychoactive substances has the ability to significantly promote and accelerate aging and represent a high proportion of serious mental illnesses.
On this basis, it can be considered that, in correspondence with the World Health Organization (2018), the promotion of well-being, the prevention of mental illnesses, the treatment and rehabilitation of people affected by these disorders, are one of the main concerns of people, communities and societies around the world.
History of Mental Health
From the end of the Second World War to the present time, mental health has played a fundamental role at the academic and political levels, as well as in the daily life of Western society (Hiriart, 2018). According to Hiriart (2018), in 1946, the Mental Health Association was established in London, and two years later, the first International Conference on Mental Health was held in the same city.
In 1948, the World Health Organization established a department dedicated solely to mental health (Hiriart, 2018). Later, in 1949, the National Institute of Mental Health was established in the United States. In correspondence with Hiriart (2018), this reflects decades of interest in the subject by world powers, an interest that is far from diminishing, since it grows exponentially every day.
In 1950, the WHO Expert Committee presented the first definition of mental health, which was influenced by dynamic psychiatry (Hiriart, 2018). According to Hiriart (2018), the three criteria proposed to define a mentally healthy person are: they satisfactorily synthesize their own instincts, potentially conflictive; establishes and maintains a harmonious relationship with other people, and has the possibility of modifying the physical and social environment.
In 1958, the social psychologist Marie Jahoda published a report on the systematization of mental health in the United States, created at the request of the Joint Committee on Mental Illness and Health, which has been widely disseminated and simplified, and which undoubtedly constitutes the most obvious reference in all subsequent definitions (Hiriart, 2018). Jahoda's criteria, cited by Hiriart (2018), are: realistic self-concept, identity and self-esteem; the search for growth and self-realization; the integration of himself and the different experiences; the autonomy; objective knowledge of reality and mastery of the environment: adaptation and successful achievement of goals.
Referencias
Carrasco, E., et al. (2015). Voluntariado en Salud Mental. Obtenido 12 Noviembre 2020, de https://www.uma.es/media/tinyimages/file/Voluntariado_en_Salud_Mental.pdf
Hiriart, G. (2018). De qué hablamos cuando hablamos de salud mental?. Obtenido 12 Noviembre 2020, de https://www.redalyc.org/jatsRepo/279/27957772009/html/index.html
Organización Mundial de la Salud. (2020). Salud mental. Obtenido 12 Noviembre 2020, de https://www.who.int/topics/mental_health/es/
Organización Mundial de la Salud. (2018). Salud mental: fortalecer nuestra respuesta. Obtenido 12 Noviembre 2020, de https://www.who.int/es/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/mental-health-strengthening-our-response
Pradas, C. (2018). Salud mental: definición según la psicología. psicologia-online.com. Recuperado 26 August 2021, a partir de https://www.psicologia-online.com/salud-mental-definicion-segun-la-psicologia-4196.html
Pregúntale a Norby. [Pregúntale a Norby]. (2020, Octubre 17). COMO SE SI NECESITO TERAPIA? [Descubre que es la terapia y cual es su SECRETO] [Archivo de video]. Recuperado de https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V_CVMh6Hz1k
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